COMMENT: Kid Cruz had just one second from three previous wet-track tries but had no trouble handling wet going here as he notched his second straight win. As the 3-2 favorite he stalked the pace set by Madefromlucky, moved up wide to challenge that foe into the lane, got the better of that rival but had to work hard to the line to maintain his narrow advantage.
CONQUEST PARTYGIRL
Trainer Mark Casse
Last Race: April 9, 10th
Finish: 4th by three-quarters
Beyer: 57
She pressed the pace on the outside before lacking room in the stretch when debuting in a five-furlong maiden special for Ontario-sired fillies. This daughter of Giant Gizmo and Grade 3 turf stakes winner Alexis is a three-quarter sister to Queen’s Plate winner Mike Fox. She should welcome a stretch-out in distance.
CALL ME WALLY
I found the Sunday card at Keeneland to be fairly difficult, and my most confident plays probably will be rather chalky, such as the card-starters STREET CHIEF in Race 1 and either of the Wesley Ward fillies (SPELLKER and RED LODGE) in Race 2. So, I’d prefer to wait until a bit later in the day to really step in, and I’ll do so by formatting a late pick four (races 6-9) that uses one key single and gives sufficient spread so as to yield blow-it-up potential.
Not to get lost in the wagering shuffle Saturday is all-stakes four offered in conjunction between Keeneland and Aqueduct, linking the Bay Shore, Madison, Wood, and Blue Grass. So let’s take a look at the races and my strategy for playing it.
Handicapping the huge, inscrutable fields in the late pick four on Santa Anita Derby Day Saturday may make your head spi,n but the very nature of such fields also means an opportunity for paydirt. Also, a couple key horses can help you spread in other races, searching for that price.
With rain in the forecast for Saturday’s Wood Memorial card at Aqueduct, I’m going to steer clear of the three races scheduled for turf until there is resolution one way or the other. And if the rain does indeed materialize, and the main track is wet, I’m going to pay close attention to how speed does. When the Aqueduct main track was wet and sealed on Thursday, the surface played strongly in favor of speed.
In any case, my main opinions on the day come later in the card. Here they are, in race order:
Pick four play for Saturday, April 9, 2016, at Santa Anita.
RACE 9
WHAT A VIEW (12) is a Grade 1 winner who is proven over a turf course with some give in it – which is almost guaranteed to be the case Saturday afternoon. The Thunder Road field doesn’t feature much as far as pace is concerned, and there’s a very real chance that What a View makes the front and takes this field gate to wire. He’s a lone “A” in this $6 play.
RACE 10
Let us not dwell on what was perhaps the most horrifying performance of any Pick we have thrown out there—we are still shaking our heads, There were seven BreezeFigs maidens who did come through last week, at Aqueduct, Gulfstream (two), Laurel, Oaklawn, Tampa Bay and Turfway. Today’s card has several really good opportunities—and to make up for last week’s stinker, we are giving you two shots, see below. Good luck!
LOST IRON
Trainer: Bill Mott
Last race: April 1, 4th
Finish: 1st by 2
Beyer: 79
Grandson of A.P. Indy added blinkers for his third start, and showed improved positional speed en route to a good-looking maiden win at 1 1/8 miles. Has the look of a typically slow-but-sure developer for Hall of Fame trainer.